Church of Alexius, the Metropolitan of Moscow, in Rogozhskaya Sloboda (Moscow)

60 Nikoloyamskaya Street, Moscow, Metro stations: "Chkalovskaya", "Kurskaya", "Taganskaya", "Marksistskaya", "Ploshchad Ilicha", "Rimskaya".

The Church was built by villagers of Rogozhskaya Sloboda in 1748 to 1751. It replaced two previous churches: a wooden one known since 1625, and a brick one constructed in 1701.

The Church of Alexius is one of the best Baroque buildings in Moscow. As is reported it was designed by the architect D. Ukhtomsky. From the east a rounded apse adjoins a massive quadrangle (the main altar of the Fyodorovskaya Theotokos) with two rows of windows, from the west — a refectory with two side altars (the altars of Alexius the Metropolitan and Nikolaos the Wonderworker) and a bell tower, only two lower circles of which have been preserved.

The walls were painted in 1778 and 1779. The Church was famous for its ancient icons dated to the 15th to 17th centuries, outer and inner 18th century architecture and art work.

The wall tops, evenly partitioned with pilasters, feature wide cornices with many steps and curves. Large arched windows have frames with segmental knobs. The second row of windows in the quadrangle is emphasized with knobs in form of broken pediments.

The Church's architecture is characterized by balanced austerity of three-dimensional design and stylistic purity of forms.

Formerly, the Church's silhouette with a dome mounted on a high two-circle drum (did not survive) and a three-circle bell tower closed a perspective of the ancient Vladimir road (now Entusiastov Highway). From a distance, when approaching Moscow, the Church seemed to be a picturesque united ensemble with the Church of St. Sergius in Rogozhskaya Sloboda, which situated in Nikoloyamskaya Street opposite to the Church of Alexius.

In 1922, the authorities confiscated about nine grams (0.3 ounces) of gold coins, over 285 kilograms (628 pounds) of silver coins, 320 grams (11 ounces) of pearl church valuables and utensils.

In 1929, the Church was closed, then pillaged, devastated and finally rebuilt. Only two circles of the bell tower survived, the drums and the main dome were removed. The Church building was occupied by warehouses, a factory, and a property management.

In 1991, the Church was returned to the religious.

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Church of Alexius, the Metropolitan of Moscow, in Rogozhskaya Sloboda

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